Bledsoe powers Bucks past Rockets
Amidmarquee showdown between MVP contenders, Bledsoe takes the spotlight in Bucks’ win
It was supposed to be a marquee showdown between the two stars leading the MVP race. But Eric Bledsoe had other plans, stealing the spotlight as the Milwaukee Bucks crushed the Houston Rockets, 108-94, on Tuesday night. With top-billing going to MVP front-runners Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden, the feisty Bledsoe scored 23 points, including 16 in a decisive third quarter.
MILWAUKEE— Eric Bledsoe stole the show in a marquee matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
With top-billing going to MVP front-runners Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden, the feisty Bucks’ guard turned in one his best all-around performances of the season as the Bucks pulled away for a 10894 victory on Tuesday night.
Bledsoe poured in 23 points, including 16 in a decisive third quarter, and tightly guarded Harden for most of the game.
“I just try to play to my strengths,” Bledsoe said.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer praised Bledsoe’s allaround performance.
“To do what he did on both ends of the court, pretty special,” Budenholzer said. “I think he loves that challenge. I think he’s an incredible defender.”
Antetokounmpo had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Milwaukee, which improved to an NBA-best 56-19.
Harden scored 23 points and Chris Paul had 19 for Houston, which lost for just the third time in 17 games. Harden shot just 9 of 26, including 1 for 9 from 3point range with Bledsoe closely guarding him throughout most of the game.
“We had our open shots. We couldn’t know them down,” Harden said. “We competed but they went on a run in that third quarter and that was it.”
After a tightly contested first half, the Bucks grabbed control in the third, sparked by Bledsoe’s clutch shooting. Leading by five at halftime, Milwaukee built a 19-point lead in the third. Bledsoe went 4 of 5 on 3pointers in the period after missing his only two attempts in the first half. His third-quarter output, which included a single-handed 11-0 run, nearly matched the 18 points scored by Houston.
“Everybody got energy out of that and we played even harder,” Antetokounmpo said.
Milwaukee held the Rockets at bay for most of the final quarter, maintaining a double-digit lead throughout before clearing the bench with about a minute left.
The Rockets jumped out early, building a 10-point firstquarter lead without Harden doing the bulk of the scoring. Danuel House Jr. paced Houston with nine points in the period, making all three of his 3-point attempts. The Bucks struggled in the opening period, shooting just 8 of 25, including 3 for 13 from deep. Khris Middleton missed all six of his shots in the first quarter.
Milwaukee fought back in the second and eventually grabbed the lead. A key sequence came midway through the quarter when, after a basket by Ersan Ilyasova, Bledsoe stole the inbounds pass, scored and then stood face-to-face with Harden under the basket as the crowd roared.